Something I saw in a trumpet group that really resonated with me…
“Music on paper is just a roadmap. That has nothing to do with the actual things you’re producing. That has nothing to do with emotions and affecting people. I hope that’s the reason we’re up here doing this.” -Ambrose Akinmusire
@TheBlackTrumpeter
I’ve always felt this way about what, and how, I play. But perhaps for the first time I’ve seen it articulated in words so clearly that it hit the mark perfectly.
I’m going to try to draw on this whenever I’m playing outside of a trumpet section.
Buried deep in the depths of The Beatles White Album is the fun little track entitled Honey Pie. And buried deep within that is a horn section consisting of clarinets and saxes playing a beautiful jazz-era-inspired accompaniment.
It was very difficult to hear all of the parts from the original recording, so there’s an element of guesswork in my transcription. But regardless, it works and it sounds beautiful.
Without ready access to a clarinetist, these charts have been arranged for (cup muted) trumpet, alto, and tenor sax. We recorded this is a Virtual Collaboration, with musicians from across 4 continents. Audio engineering by Jean Michel Durand and video editing by Shawn Hare.
PS: I finished and published this post from the Blue Note, Manhattan, while waiting at the bar to see trumpet player Nicholas Payton. So excited, just had to tell you…
To some, the Victoria Bitter (VB) beer commercial (advertisement) is almost a second national anthem. It’s iconic and truly Australian, invoking for many a vivid recollection of that hard-earned thirst that needs a big, cold beer, since 1968. As a TV commercial, this catchy tune was recorded by the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra accompanying John Meillon’s spoken voice. It has been in our ears for over 50 years, and it’s always reassuring to know it’s there.
Last month I hiked the Kokoda Track through the rugged jungle of Papua New Guinea, and for those 8 exhausting days, I longed for an icy cold beer. And so, once the VB commercial tune was stuck in my head, on repeat, it stayed there for the entire trek. There was simply no stopping it.
During those hours of mentally processing the theme, I transcribed the whole thing in my head. So when I returned home it was a relatively simple matter of getting it out of my head and onto paper.
I’m in the process of recording this arrangement with great musicians on strings, horns, and rhythm section. But that’s likely to take a while, so in the meantime, I thought I’d unleash my transcription here.
How did I miss this song, back in the golden days of disco? This was fun to transcribe, play and record.
I collaborated on the BandLab platform this time. Check the link to the Project (below) for details and perhaps some insight, if you’re not familiar with BandLab.
Here’s my transcription of Alan Rubin’s trumpet part for “Think”, accompanying Aretha Franklin for The Blues Brothers soundtrack.
I’ve recorded this as part of a “virtual collab”, with all instruments recording individually on our respective corners of the globe, and then mixing the lot in together to form this consolidated collaboration. I plan to post the finished product here when available.
